Should You Buy A Baofeng UV5R in 2024?

🛒Don't forget to buy a programming cable too, I use this one and it works fine for me on Windows 10/11:

Wondering if the Baofeng UV5R is still woth a look in 2024?
I make the case that YES, if you're a beginner there is still not one single better handheld cheap walkie talkie to look at.

#Baofeng #UV5R #RadioReview #2024Tech #HamRadio #CommunicationDevices #TechReview #AmateurRadio #BaofengUV5R #isitworthit

The music used in this video includes the sublime Lazy Sunday, some proper mellow vaporesque stuff, check it out here: Lazy Aftermoon (The Journey Of The Lost Crescent, 2020)

====Social Media====

Thank you for watching,
Andy xx

[davidyummus]

A Friend bought a UV-5R new for US$8 !... He added a 3800mah Type C charge Battery for US$15, a Window Antenna Bracket with 18" HAM/GMRS Antenna for $30 !
It was unlocked then Programmed for all the Local HAM Repeaters, GMRS Repeaters & Channels, FRS & MURS channels/frequencies plus NOAA Weather channels.
He has a 5w "Decent" Car Radio that he can quickly remove & carry for just over US$50 (GBP$38 or EU$45)

[ScoopGB]

I bought for comms with partner while climbing / mountaneering. Not really more expensive to buy these and get licences than it is a couple of PMRs. If find ourselves in the sh*t with no phone signal it might be helpful too as we'll be at elevation and might have bit more range. That's my thinking anyway, and for the money, we'll learn alot and maybe want to take it further.

[pcarro]

I have two of these, plus a copy of "The Guerilla's Guide To Baofeng Radio." A SHTF thing, that's all.

[DARTHDANSAN]

I also love these because you can unlock them and use them for all frequencies like marine VHF, HAM, GMRS

[stevenemert]

It's funny, all the channels recently talked about how great the Tidradio TD-H3 so I got one. Mainly because I can use it to receive all the way down to somewhere around 25 MHz. Found I actually like the UV-5R menu operation better.

[DARTHDANSAN]

My parents have 3 of them, I have one to my friends, I keep one in my car . My main radio is the Yeasu FT5DR with APRS

[ClayGreen]

Subscribed because you ended it with- “don’t ring that bell!”

Question-
UV-5r OR GM-15 pro? Complete newbie here.

Thank you!

[thatsrich]

AR-5RM for me. Tri-band, 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, GMRS, FMS, MURS, AM, 10 watts, 2500 mAh, USB-C, comes unlocked from the factory. Has lots of glorious spurious emissions to piss off the HAMs. Get two... one for each hand and squirt the RF love all over the place.

[stephieg]

I love my UV-5R. Like the fact that it can take an AA battery pack in case of an emergency. Some of the newer Baofeng radios can't do that. I am dual CERT and ham certified and am part of the emergency radio net for our city.

[-Belshazzar-]

I have two of these, for what they cost? they are worth it for sure

[JRudy]

Good, decent and cheap. That's exactly what I'm looking for. That's why I bought a UV5R and a Tidradio H3. Have you looked at the Baofeng MP31? I'm RF curious and the MP31 is the next device on my wishlist. I hope you give it a review.

[jabezhane]

I bought one a few days ago. Was always intrigued. Looked up the do's and don't's cos well being polite. Anyway so far all I've had are three things... 1. 98% of it static or silence. 2. The odd few beeps of what I assume is morse. 3. Two boomers I guess call Brian and Keith self-conciously talking about the weather and saying they are only on the radio cos the wife is at the hairdressers. Quite frankly it seems to me HAM is just a few old farts defending their last bit of the playground. To be honest I can see the Govt taking it back and using the bandwidth for something more useful or just dump the HAM/License aspect and open it to all. Yes I did get a better antenna too. Interesting but I think I got here 40 years too late. Thank god I only invested £35! Nowhere near as exciting as getting my first IRC chat to someone in the US over the internet in 1993! "Hello, anyone there?" "Yes hello WRU?" "UK!" "US here!" "Wow!" Good times!

[itsapittie]

I'm not truly a radio enthusiast. I'm just a person who needs a radio for local communication in a variety of settings. With the UV-5 series radios and a GMRS license, I can do that and also use a repeater when necessary. Will I ever "move up" to something more expensive? Unlikely. The radio itself is not my hobby;; I just want something better than an FRS "bubble pack" radio. The UV-5 series is perfect for guys like me.

[rilvyk]

Uv-5r is definitely scrappy and was a good starter for me.The 5RM however - seriously almost hit nearly every requirement i'd want in an HT under $100 USD or so(still has the super slow scanning like baofengs tend to, though. If you are someone who likes to scan this is going to frustrate you outside of scanning your saved and configured channels).

If you like the UV-5R, i can't stress enough how awesome the 5RM is compared to it for nearly around $20 more. seriously!

[chrisdelong]

I have 4 of them. I don’t know why, because I only have 2 hands. Actually I do know why. Because 2 are triple power uv-5rtp models. I thought maybe that extra power level might actually mean something significant. But, sadly enough, it doesn’t. Oh, and I don’t need a license in my country but i do have a callsign. 73’

[kobrapromotions]

I was actually thinking of buying a UV-17 Pro with GPS, theyre water resistant. I was going to crack it open and apply waterproof conformal coating to PCB and have it as a camping radio.

Whats your thoughts?

[nativetexan]

Usually one thing that most Americans will bring up without fail, somewhere and at some point in a conversation about a UV5R, is the racist phrase "it's Chinese junk". I have had my UV5R for several years and it has outlived my Alinco, Icom and Yaesu HTs. Even the battery pack has been going strong the entire time. So I laugh in the faces of those who will not buy this radio due to hate for another race of people.

[daviddewey]

A call sign does not include a personality.😅😅 woooo

[MuzzleMike]

I have my tech ticket and do not care to go any further with it.. Local comms are what i need and i dabble in CW on 40meter . K3MLN . Fengs have a place .